Arizona Committee Hearing on Election Law Bills

The Arizona House Judiciary Committee hears two important election law bills on Thursday, June 25, at 9 a.m. in House Hearing Room 4. On the agenda is SB 1091, the Secretary of State’s omnibus election law bill that legalizes out-of-state circulators for independent presidential petitions, but does not legalize out-of-state circulators for any other type of petition.

Also on the agenda is SCR 1025, which would put a ballot question on the November 2010 ballot, asking voters if they want to repeal public funding for candidates for state office.

Anti-Gerrymandering Bill Introduced in US House

On June 24, five U.S. House members introduced a bill to require states to use “bipartisan commissions” to draw U.S. House boundaries after each census. The bill won’t have a bill number until June 25, and the text isn’t available yet. See this press release. The five house members include four Democrats and one Republican. The four Democrats are John Tanner of Tennessee, Allen Boyd of Florida, Jim Cooper of Tennessee, and Baron Hill of Indiana. The Republican is Mike Castle of Delaware. Thanks to ElectionLawBlog for this news.

Rhode Island Won't Appeal Moderate Party Decision

Almost a month ago, a U.S. District Court in Rhode Island struck down a Rhode Island election law that makes it illegal for anyone to circulate the petition to recognize a new political party during an odd year. On June 24, the Rhode Island Attorney General announced the state will not appeal that decision. The case is Block v Mollis, and had been won by the Moderate Party, a party that only exists in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island Won’t Appeal Moderate Party Decision

Almost a month ago, a U.S. District Court in Rhode Island struck down a Rhode Island election law that makes it illegal for anyone to circulate the petition to recognize a new political party during an odd year. On June 24, the Rhode Island Attorney General announced the state will not appeal that decision. The case is Block v Mollis, and had been won by the Moderate Party, a party that only exists in Rhode Island.